Opening scene shows a man being roughed up by a group of men in an alleyway. A slate comments (in French) that when nations are bellicose, an assassination can cause a world war. Next, a slate shows picture of the world and states (in English) "One murder may start a world war." Another slate (in French) states that In 1914, while Europe's armies and fleets were more powerful than they had ever been, the nephew of the Emperor of Austria (Archduke Ferdinand) was assassinated. A front page is shown of newspaper, "Journal De Geneve" carrying the story. Next scene is a view of the city of Sarajevo. The ancient Emperor's Mosque dominates the scene. A slate appears asking Where is Sarajevo? It is followed by a map of Europe in 1914, which zooms in on Austria and Serbia and identifies and labels Sarajevo,in Austria, close to the Serbian border. Slates (in French) says Austria accused Serbia of War and other nations enter the melee. Animated World map shows the nations getting involved, starting with the German Empire in 1914, including its African colonies, and then successively showing Russia, France, Belgium,Great Britain, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire. Map advances to 1915, showing the Italian empire, Bulgaria,and Central Arabia. In 1916 it adds Portugal, Roumania. Next, the U.S.A. is added in, 1917, along with Central and South America, Greece, Siam, and China. Finally, the slate shows the war ending in 1918. Slate shows Armistice Day, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month (November), with time shown on hands of Big Ben in London.

Events during World War 1. Sketches : In November 1916 newspaper shows Wilson reelected as a president. Cartoon depict the people of America supporting the Wilson's policy of peace. Several sketches of Thomas Woodrow Wilson after winning the election. Second inaugural of President Wilson at the United States capitol in Washington D.C. The German High Command in Berlin. Posters show the hardships of German citizens due to Allied blockade. Germany announces unrestrained submarine warfare against all vessels. Posters of the Germans destroying the American ships. The New York times reports German demarche to Japan and Mexico for support to Germany. Sketch depicts Germany Secretary of foreign affairs, Arthur Zimmermann seeks these alliances. Theodore Roosevelt addresses people. Several sketches of Woodrow Wilson. On April 2nd 1917 President Woodrow Wilson obtains declaration of war against Germany, from congress. American enters the conflict. U.S. Soldiers carry weapons in the battle field. sketches of several American officials. People work in factories to produce war materiel. A person with posters promoting Liberty bonds. A blindfolded person draws numbers from a bowl for civilian conscription. Citizens entering military service. People in a railroad train and others stand outside. People holding baggage walk in a group. A doctor checks the mouth of a recruit. Army recruit getting a haircut. Soldier stands holding guns. Soldiers practice firing artillery. Soldiers march. American recruits practice on wooden guns. Several sketches of the allied armies.

The United States of America in 1916. In 1916 : A large crowd gathered outside the St. Louis Coliseum for the 1916 Democratic National Convention. Dignitaries arrive for the convention. Nominated President Woodrow Wilson with his wife in an open motor carriage. Woodrow Wilson with officials in his New Jersey home. A large crowd gathered outside his home. Woodrow Wilson delivers an acceptance speech. The large crowd listens to the speech. The nominated Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan. William Bryan and officials in the balcony of a building. William Bryan shakes hands with people gathered outside the building

Variety of events in World War I years. German merchant submarine Deutschland (a British blockade buster) in 1916 in the United States (then neutral), departing New London, Connecticut on November 21, 1916 headed back to Germany carrying silver bullion. The submarine had just completed repairs following a collision with the tugboat T.A. Scott Jr. when first attempting to leave New London on November 16, 1916. The North German Lloyd Shipping Company submarine Deutschland is seen leaving the dock at New London, Connecticut. The officers on the submarine Deutschland wave. View of a submarine under water. An officer blowing a bugle aboard the deck of an Italian naval torpedo boat. Italian sailors prepare a deck gun on the vessel. The deck gun is fired. An explosion in the water. View of Austro-Hungarian Battleship SMS Szent Istvan (Saint Stephen), capsizing and rolling after it is torpedoed off the Dalmation Coast of the Adriatic Sea by Italian torpedo boats on June 10, 1918. Survivors being rescued in small boats. View of a merchants vessels at dock and in a harbor. View of survivors of the May 1915 Lusitania disaster, with belongings, arriving in a harbor. Men and women with children posing. Two small girls pose among the group of Lusitania survivors.

Willian Jennings Bryan, campaigning for President Wilson, as a private citizen, in 1916 (after having resigned as Wilson's Secretary of State). He stands in a car decorated with patriotic bunting and an American flag, in front of modest house in a rural area. Bryan is accompanied by several associates. A popular Wilson campaign photograph (coming loose at the top) is attached to the car door . The writing under Wilson's picture is not legible. As Bryan sits down in the car, his wife, Mary, is seen next to him. (She had been blocked from the camera while he stood.) The car drives away. In complete change of scene, a crowd is seen completely filling the lawn and grounds of "Shadow Lawn," President Wilson's Summer White House, at Long Branch, New Jersey. They have come to celebrate his renomination as Democratic candidate for President. Camera pans over the crowd. Next, President Wilson is seen standing on a step in the center of the garden, acknowledging and accepting the nomination.

President Woodrow Wilson at the National Guard training grounds in Sea Girt New Jersey, to visit with troops returning from duty in Texas during the Mexican Border Campaign (aka Pancho Villa Expedition) of 1916. Brief glimpse of The President stepping from his 1916 Pierce Arrow 38-C Series 4 Brougham Limousine, parked next to a row of army tents. The car displays a unique American Eagle radiator cap ornament (and an AAA emblem on the radiator). He is surrounded by officers, who greet him. The next scene show the President and the unit's commanding Brigadier General, seated in rocking chairs in a tent. Wilson, in dress clothes, including top hat, mounts an army horse, and rides along with officers, to review the Guard troops drawn up in formation. He sits astride the horse, next to the General, and removes his hat in salute as the troops march in review.